If you didn’t already know, being obsessed with Halifax is one of my personality traits. During the five years I lived there, I spent a lot of time studying in the local coffee shops and found answers to all of the important questions – which ones have the most reliable WiFi? Outlets to plug your laptop into? The most seating available? The best coffee? The best snacks? I’ve summarized my top three favourite coffee shops in this post, along with some details about the spaces and recommendations for what to order.
One of the best things about Halifax is the focus on local businesses – of course, you’ll still find Starbucks and Tim Hortons, but there are TONS of locally-owned restaurants, cafes, and stores. If you find yourself in Halifax, I encourage you to try something local before heading into Starbucks for a peppermint mocha (well, most of the time anyways… peppermint mochas are pretty good).
The Old Apothecary
TOA has arguably the best coffee in Halifax. I remember going there for the first time between classes in 2015 and being amazed by their cafe au lait. They are also known for having incredible baked goods, but be sure to go early! There won’t be much left towards the end of the day.
- The Space: Funky decor with minimal seating on the bottom floor and more space upstairs. They are opening a new location soon so keep an eye out on their social media to get the details!
- Working and WiFi: I’ve always had good experiences with WiFi and outlet availability at TOA, however, I wouldn’t recommend it for working on a laptop due to the seating options. There are many couches, making it difficult to work from a laptop and I find the table heights awkward. In my opinion, the space is better for chatting with friends or reading.
- What to Order: Cafe au lait with dark roast, Vietnamese iced coffee if you’re looking for something sweet, and honestly any of the baked goods. The egg croissant is great for a quick breakfast!
Glitter Bean (Formerly Just Us!)
The former Just Us! cafe was recently turned into a co-op run by the employees and is an inclusive space where everyone is welcome. All of the baristas here are awesome and overall, it’s my favourite cafe in Halifax.
- The Space: Glitter Bean is in an old house on Spring Garden Road. It probably has more seating than any other cafe in Halifax. There’s also a room upstairs that can be booked which is great for work meetings or working on group projects with the group members who actually decide to show up (the joys of uni).
- Working and WiFi: I spent a ridiculous amount of time studying here and never had a problem getting a table. Better yet, almost all of the tables have an outlet nearby and the WiFi was reliable. If you go early enough and are looking for peace and quiet, you can usually snag the upstairs room (given that it isn’t booked).
- What to Order: Cafe au lait with medium roast, then add cocoa powder! I recently had a chai latte here for the first time and would highly recommend it as well. Can’t say much about the food items here… I was living on a student budget ok??
Cortado Tasting Room
This cafe is actually in Bedford, but it’s honestly worth the drive. Cortado Tasting Room is legit; self-proclaimed coffee snobs will love it here. With so many brewing options, plus great lattes, mochas, and smoothies, you can’t go wrong.
Heather Grandy 